Is This a Sign of a Dying Party? Dead before baptism; backbone deficiency Racism is a form of discrimination that characterise each race as inferior or superior to other races. A look on the DA candidate list for parliament, one realises the brutal attack on democracy. Like many South Africans I believe sending young inexperienced people to parliament undermine the gains of our democracy and an unfortunate political stunt. The Democratic Alliance leader, Helen Zille knows how to kill opposition parties. She started it with Independent Democrats (ID) now its Agang SA. In 2003, Patricia De Lille left Pan Africanist Congress to form and lead ID in order to make a positive contribution to democratic practices and political competition in the country. Zille, after 2009 election viewed ID as a threat and an opportunity for to prove that in her understanding and belief, black women cannot lead. Dr Mamphela Ramphela leader of Agang SA was announced as the presidential candidate of the DA last week for the coming general elections. The announcement by Helen Zille in a press briefing that morning was nothing but an attempt by Zille to stabilise her sinking ship. Since the emergence of the Black and White caucuses said to be led by DA parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko and former leader Athol Trollip and lately the announcement by the Madam that she will be stepping down; the DA has had no stability. Leadership squabbles have dogged the party. One wonders whether the DA wanted us to believe their political stunt as positive in terms of racial integration in the DA. Unfortunately, both black and white caucuses are filled with people who are full of pride. They dont care about social cohesion or democracy but worry much about their egos. They were not fooled by the appointment of an outsider into so-called leading position in the DA. Zille knew very well that the DA will not win the coming general elections, appointing Ramphela was just a marketing strategy aimed at avoiding a split in the DA. Fortunately for Ramphele, Agang SA members have learnt from what happened to de Lille and her ID. In 2004, ID got seven seats in the National Assembly but dropped in 2009 and only managed to secure four seats. This was brought about by the rumours that DA was to merge with ID to oppose the ANC especially in the Northern Cape and Western Cape respectively. Rumours became real in 2010 and the ID and DA merged signalling the death of the Independent Democrats. Due to the merger, ID did not contest the 2011 local elections; instead it fielded its candidates on the DAs ballots. This year sees the final chapter of that merger as ID will be history. Independent Democrats (ID) is dead and stillborn Agang SA is now facing the same demise due to poor thinking of Agang SA leader Mamphela Ramphele. White men cant lead; black women to the rescue. By: Skhumbuzo Qwabe
Posted on: Mon, 03 Feb 2014 14:04:32 +0000
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